§ 30. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade on what date the British Standards Institution was given the necessary powers by Her Majesty's Government to raise standards where the Institution considers this to be essential in the public interest.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftUnder its Charter of 1929 the British Standards Institution may revise, alter and amend standards as it sees fit.
§ Miss BurtonCan the President qualify that statement a little? Is he aware that many people, including the British Standards Institution itself, are under the impression that it cannot raise the standards of goods which carry the Kite mark unless the industry concerned is prepared to agree to those changes? Is he further aware that in the recent case about crash helmets a statement was made on behalf of the B.S.I. in which I 1197 understood it to say that in no case whatever where it considered that standards were too low could the B.S.I. itself raise those standards without the concurrence of the industry concerned?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe Institution has power to amend any standards in any way but its practice is to proceed in consultation and by voluntary agreement.
§ Miss BurtonDo I understand that the Institution has the power to raise any standards without the concurrence of the industry concerned?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe British Standards Institution has power to amend its standards in any way whatever without authority from Her Majesty's Government, but in practice it has, I think wisely, proceeded in consultation and in agreement with the industries concerned.